OHIO provides update on monkeypox (MPV) outbreak

The beneath is a message to the Ohio College group.

Expensive OHIO group,

You probably have seen information about monkeypox (MPV) being recognized by the World Well being Group (WHO) as a Public Well being Emergency of Worldwide Concern and the Facilities for Illness Management’s steerage for assessing and treating the virus.

Though we’ve no recognized instances at OHIO, we’re carefully monitoring the unfold of MPV and are working with state and native public well being companions to information our group response to the virus.

Though it’s difficult to face one more advanced public well being difficulty, this virus is far much less transmissible than COVID and thus is much less more likely to trigger the identical stage of disruption to campus actions. There are not any recognized instances in Athens County or the counties by which our regional campuses are situated. This implies the relative threat to our College group is at present low.

The vast majority of instances in Ohio are at present in Columbus and Cleveland. As of Sept. 6, 2022, there have been 20,733 instances in the USA and 210 instances in Ohio, with one reported demise within the U.S.

Throughout the U.S., most instances have been unfold by sexual exercise, and the charges are highest amongst individuals with a number of intercourse companions.  You will need to notice that though instances are at present excessive amongst males who’ve intercourse with males, it isn’t unique to that inhabitants and isn’t solely transmitted through sexual contact. Any prolonged pores and skin to pores and skin contact with an contaminated particular person locations people in danger, and you might be extremely unlikely to get MPV by restricted interplay similar to a handshake or from surfaces.

Whereas there are at present no reported MPV instances at OHIO, we’re getting ready to be proactive on condition that some college campuses throughout the nation have already skilled instances. Because the virus progresses, we may even see homophobic stigma develop round MPV, which places everybody’s well being in danger and may have long-lasting, unfavourable penalties for the LGBTQ group; it can be crucial for the OHIO group to know the details about MPV and interrupt stigma.

MPV is a part of the identical household because the smallpox virus however causes far much less extreme illness. There have been only a few deaths as a consequence of MPV however the sickness may be very painful, could cause scarring and requires individuals who have it to isolate for an extended time frame. Thus, you will need to take steps to scale back private threat and to hunt testing rapidly when you’ve got a recognized publicity and/or have signs. Whereas some individuals develop flu-like signs, the hallmark of the an infection is a rash. For an in depth description of signs, please go to the CDC web site. For those who expertise these signs, or have been uncovered, please see a supplier. Athens campus college students ought to schedule an appointment at Campus Care, all others ought to contact their supplier or go to an pressing care. People who’ve been uncovered are eligible for a vaccine. Please notice, if you see your supplier, you have to put on a masks and hold the rash coated.

We’ve got ready a web site with extra info. Please take a second to assessment this info and take the required precautions.

Whereas it’s our hope that we’ll not have instances on campus, we’ve plans in place to handle the illness within the occasion that we do.

Wishing you all a wholesome semester,

Gillian Ice
Particular Assistant to the President for Public Well being Operations

Kenneth Johnson
Chief Medical Affairs Officer and Govt Dean, Heritage School of Osteopathic Drugs